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Makar family enjoying every minute of Cale’s playoff introduction

Colorado Avalanche D Cale MakarPhoto: Matthew Stockman

Wes Gilbertson

Published: May 8, 2019 - 6:49 PM

SAN JOSE — Imagine the big annual shindig … every second night.

That’s been the case over the past few weeks for loved ones of Cale Makar, who have seen a whole lot of each other — and been treated to plenty of pinch-me moments — as the smooth-skating defenceman from Calgary has taken the 2019 Stanley Cup playoffs by storm.

“It’s just like the Grey Cup, every game,” said Cale’s father, Gary Makar.

That puts the pressure on Uncle Dale, tasked with hosting duties because … well … his TV is the biggest.

There was another family watch-party Wednesday, this likely the most nerve-wracking yet as Cale and the Colorado Avalanche tried to advance to the Western Conference final in Game 7 of their second-round slugfest against the San Jose Sharks.

“My brother has a nice little movie room with, like, an 102-inch screen … It’s kind of his ultimate man-cave, so it’s our major sports congregation place,” Gary said. “Any big event, he has the best things, so he gets wrangled into hosting all the time. Cale has been there many times, too, for sports events, and all our cousins are in Calgary, so it really works out.

“If you saw it, it’s funny because his bar set-up, it’s kind of like Calgary Flames Central. He has red lights, and he has the Bud goal-light, which now is set to Colorado instead of the Flames. We’re all such huge Flames fans, but now Avs stuff is taking over.”

That transition started when the Avalanche made Makar the fourth-overall selection in the 2017 NHL Draft.

There was no doubting their allegiances once he signed an entry-level contract last month. In one whirlwind weekend, the 20-year-old accepted the Hobey Baker Award on a Friday, skated in the NCAA’s championship game the following night — the Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs defeated Makar and the UMass Minutemen in that showdown — and then jetted off to start his professional puck career.

The fun was really just getting started.

With his proud parents, Gary and Laura, in attendance at Pepsi Center, the new guy in No. 8 scored on just the seventh shift of his first outing in Avalanche silks. In fact, he became the first defenceman in NHL history to log his league debut in the post-season and tickle twine that same evening.

Makar helped eliminate his hometown Flames in the opening round, then played a key role in forcing Wednesday’s winner-take-all against the Sharks, providing the primary assist on Gabriel Landeskog’s elimination-avoiding overtime-ender in Game 6.

Colorado’s head coach, Jared Bednar, has repeatedly praised the rookie rearguard. It’s not just lip-service, because he immediately plopped the kid on a power-play unit and has him logging 17-plus minutes per night.

Superstar centre Nathan MacKinnon told reporters Makar might already be best skater on the team. That is quite a compliment coming from one of the best skaters on the planet.

“This past few weeks, it’s been exciting and it’s been incredible and it’s been surreal and it’s been mind-boggling,” said Makar’s mother, Laura.

What’s especially cool is the excitement isn’t just limited to loved ones and close friends.

From minor-hockey teammates and coaches to former classmates to anybody with any sort of a Cale connection, Makar Mania seems to be sweeping Calgary.

“Just the other day, our mechanic was saying, ‘Oh, I’m so excited!’ ” Laura said. “Everyone has been like that, so talk about an exciting experience. It’s just really cool, just hearing the stories. Everybody is excited about it. Everybody is watching.”

Showing the poise that made him a scout-pleaser for the Alberta Junior Hockey League’s Brooks Bandits, a standout at UMass and now a star-in-the-making for the Avalanche, Cale insisted he wasn’t nervous prior to Wednesday’s Game 7.

The crowd at Uncle Dale’s likely couldn’t make the same claim.

Gary joked that he is a “basket-case” during games.

Laura was thankful the Avalanche scored so early in the overtime session in Game 6 since sudden-death is especially tough on the ticker.

Asked if they’re becoming more accustomed to seeing Cale’s face on the flat-screen, they agreed it is a whole lot more normal than when they were seeing the highlights of their own reactions during the pair of first-round games they glimpsed live at Pepsi Center.

“It’s a whole family thing,” Cale said earlier this week. “A lot of family reach out to me every day. We’re such a tight-knit group, not just in my immediate family but all of my cousins and everything, as well.

“It’s cool to see all their support coming through. That’s been there the last few years, but it’s cool to see truly be a part of this, as I am.”

You can bet his personal fan-club was cheering their hearts out in Game 7.

Unless, that is, somebody called for silence.

“All of a sudden, the announcers will say something about Cale and everybody is going, ‘Shhhhh! Be quiet! Be quiet! We have to hear this!’ ” Gary chuckled. “It’s been a lot fun.”